Dyson Heppell has swapped the AFL for the jungle on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia 2026.
The former Essendon captain, 33, made his jungle debut on Sunday, January 18, and discussed the infamous Essendon supplement scandal on the show.
In 2016, 34 Essendon players were found guilty of taking the banned substance Thymosin beta-4 during the 2012 season, despite initially being cleared by an anti-doping tribunal.
Despite no positive drug tests being received, players received bans, and coach James Hird was suspended, with the scandal causing lasting damage to the club’s reputation.
Now, Dyson, who took over as captain in 2017 after the scandal, has defended his fellow Essendon players, insisting they did nothing wrong.
“In 2012 we started like a supplements regime at the club where you’d go home with your vitamins, minerals, all your tablets. And within that we were also getting injections,” he explained.
“The world doping agency got involved and we were rigorously tested, we were under constant scrutiny and in the end not one positive drug test came back.”
He said the 12-month suspension ended many players’ careers, while he was able to return and captain the club for five years afterwards.
“It literally ruined guys’ careers, they were finished and done off the back of a supplements saga, whereas I was still young in my career, so I had the 12 months off and came back to play for the same club,” he said.
“They gave us the rundown on everything we were taking and me just being curious about it and being young, not at any point was there a hint of being something suss or wrong.
“Full trust in that. There was nothing to even question, but names have never been cleared. It’s impacted the club for a long, long time.”
Dyson stayed loyal to the Essendon Bombers and only left when he retired from the AFL in 2024.
Find out what he’s been up to since retiring below.
What is Dyson Heppell known for?
Sports legend Dyson Heppell is best known for having captained the Essendon Bombers.
He served as the club’s captain for five years from 2017 until 2022, and he stayed on for two years afterwards.
Dyson played a total of 14 seasons and 253 games for the squad across his AFL career.
He earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including being crowned the Crichton Medallist in 2014 and the Rising Star winner in 2011.
Dyson was lauded for his loyalty to Essendon, leaving a significant legacy at the club behind him.
Has Dyson Heppell retired?
Yes, Dyson retired from the AFL in 2024 after a 14-year, 253-game career.
“I’ve been wrestling with the decision for a number of weeks, and it’s a decision that certainly hasn’t come lightly or been an easy one, but one that I’m super content with,” he said at the time.
“In my own mind, I always wanted to call it a day while I was still playing decent footy, and that if it got to a point where we’ve got other boys primed and ready to play my role, then I know it’s time.”
He admitted if he could go back to the start of his career and do it all again he would as he expressed his deep gratitude to Essendon for their support over the years.
“I’m so happy with where the club is at and the culture that we’re building and the bold possibility that we have set, and I wish for nothing more than to see this group strive towards that possibility,” he added.
Where is Dyson Heppell going?
Since retiring, Dyson has remained closely involved in the sporting world and played for Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League last year.
He also surprised fans by revealing he had signed on as a coach to one of Essendon’s rival teams.
During the 2026 season, after his stint on IAC, Dyson will be serving as a coach for the Collingwood Magpies.
Who is Dyson Heppell’s wife?
Dyson married his long-time partner, Kate Turner, in January 2025.
The couple tied the knot at Barunah Plains winery, near Melbourne, in front of all their friends and family.
His former Essendon teammates, Darcy Parish, Sam Durham, Sam Draper and Ben Hobbs, all attended the ceremony.
Kate works as a stylist, and she also founded the HAYCH clothing label with Dyson and Harrison “H-Man” Pennicott.
The label was created to raise money for Scleroderma research and to help 13-year-old Harrison, who has the autoimmune disease, achieve his bucket list.
Harrison served as a ring bearer on Dyson and Kate’s wedding day.
